Instructional Memo #3

Long Beach Unit Baseball Memo #3

TO: Officials, Coaches, Administrators, Observation Team, Contacts

FROM: Chris Maher, Instructional Chairman, Long Beach Unit

RE: Instructional Memo #3

The time has finally come for us to “put the ball in play” on what should be an exciting 2019 high school baseball season. All that hard work in the offseason should come to fruition for all parties involved. Let’s also remember we are a team on the field together and all parties are here together to do what’s best and make the game right. The game is in an excellent state and let’s continue to keep it that way. Here are just a few notes as we get this season rolling.

Preparation For Your Contest: We’ve stressed the importance of preparation from a physical and mental standpoint, but this also applies from an administrative aspect. Umpires should be contacting (call or email) the host institution confirming the date, location and time of their scheduled contest at all times. There are a number of our institutions that play games off campus and it is encouraged that we are proactive in finding out this information prior to our arrival. This is also a very important tool when dealing with adverse weather conditions. There are contacts listed in Arbiter for each institution and if a school would like us to add additional contacts, please let me know and we will get them situated.

Weather:With the season now starting earlier, we could be seeing the effects of Mother Nature far more than we have in the past. Communication is vital with your partner(s) and the schools as things can take unexpected turns. The magic hour for schools and officials is 1pm (CIF-SS Blue Book, Article 1221) for verification purposes. There are also games that are being played earlier or Saturday games that have various start times. The official would need to notify the school what time he would need to leave home or workplace in those instances. If the official contacts the host institution, the school verifies the contest and the official is instructed to leave his home or work place followed by the school cancelling the game (weather, unplayable field conditions, etc.), then the official is entitled to 1/2 game fee. If an official does not verify the status of a game and arrives, then he is not entitled to a 1/2 game fee. Please remember to confirm these items with either the Athletic Director, an athletic administrator or head coach in these events and note exactly who was spoken to and when it happened.

Between Games of a Doubleheader: This Saturday involves many of our teams playing a doubleheader. After the conclusion of the first game, both umpires need to bring both coaches together to agree on a starting time for Game 2 as well as when the plate meeting is going to happen. For example, “1:30pm start time and plate meeting at 1:25pm.” These timelines are mainly for the teams as this revolves around the starting pitchers “getting hot”

Crew Consultation/Getting the Call Right: There are various instances where the crew may be needed to get together to adjudicate the proper ruling or “Get The Call Right.” Some of those instances include, but are not limited to:

A swipe tag or pulled foot at any base

An out is called with the ball clearly on the ground

A balk is erroneously called and the pitcher had stepped off the rubber.

A caught third strike, that was ruled uncaught in a situation where a dropped third strike is possible by rule.

Possible ground rule double or home run

Correcting the count

Correcting an award of bases

A possible misapplication of a rule

When these conferences happen, the head coach must return to his position either in the dugout or in the coaching box. If a ruling is not changed and a head coach comes back out a second time after the crew has conferenced, he is subject to an immediate ejection. Umpires should remind a coach before that point “Coach if you come out after we get together, then you will be ejected.”

When a ruling is changed, the offended coach may seek an explanation of such ruling.

Balls and Strikes: The prolonged arguing of balls and strikes is prohibited during contests, but as a reminder these are the items that are in reference to “balls and strikes.”

The location of a pitch

Check swing

When a batter is brought back for permitting a pitch to touch him and is ruled a ball or a strike.

Again, I cannot begin to express my appreciation that our institutions and umpires have for this great game. Please keep us up to date on each of your happenings as we begin the road to the CIF Championships.